91 civilians approved for voluntary separations

Jul. 8, 2014 - 11:40AM
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The Air Force has approved 91 civilian employees for voluntary separations, and they will leave by Aug. 31, according to a July 7 release.

The Air Force is also planning to offer another round of civilian buyouts and voluntary separation payments, which would be the fourth since the force management program began last December. This upcoming round will survey employees between July 21 and Aug. 1, and focus on employees who could be affected by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagelís ordered 20 percent reduction of military servicesí management headquarters staffs.

The third round saw 248 employees at 29 installations apply for either the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, or VERA, and Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay, or VSIP, the Air Force said. The 91 civilians were approved for VSIP to keep the Air Force from having to involuntarily separate other employees.

The Air Force is also continuing to offer active-duty airmen the option of switching to the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard under the expanded Palace Chase and Palace Front programs. Palace Chase normally requires enlisted airmen to serve two years in the Guard or reserve for every year of active duty they have left, and for officers, three years for every year remaining. But the expanded Palace Chase program, which is part of the force management program, requires airmen to serve only their remaining commitment in the Guard or reserve, with no additional time.

Palace Front helps airmen who have already fulfilled their service obligations switch to the Guard or reserve the day they separate or retire.

The Air Force said that more than 1,500 airmen have transitioned to the Guard or reserve through Palace Chase or Palace Front since July 2013. In the release, the Air Force suggested that airmen who are interested in making the switch contact their local in-service recruiters for more information or visit the Guardís or reserveís websites.

The Air Forceís first Enhanced Selective Early Retirement Board, or E-SERB, concluded on June 20, the Air Force said. The Air Force Personnel Center will provide the boardís results to commanders by the end of July.

Enlisted retention boards are still meeting, the Air Force said. The results for senior non-commissioned officers are expected to be sent to senior raters by the end of the month, and results for senior airmen, staff sergeants and technical sergeants will be available by mid-August.